SOURCE: “Husserl's Phenomenology and Existentialism,” in The Journal of Philosophy, Vol. LVII, No. 1, January 7, 1960, pp. 62-74.

In the following essay, Spiegelberg discusses the relationship between phenomenology and existentialism.

Philosophers do not seem to have had more success than other mortals in reaching centenarian age. This failure has for them the awkward consequence that between their death and the first centennial of their birth their fame has to undergo something like a probationary period during which they are no longer protected by the public's reverence for superannuity and by worshipful societies of disciples.

Outwardly Husserl's prestige has weathered this probationary period surprisingly well. At his death 21 years ago, he may well have seemed headed for total oblivion. His own University of Freiburg—to be sure, under Nazi pressure—had removed his very name from the roster of its emeriti. Moreover, philosophically he seemed deserted by most of his erstwhile...